Erin Goergen | St. Petersburg College (original) (raw)

Papers by Erin Goergen

Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, 2002

Plasticity, learning and memory, and neurological disease are exciting topics for students. Discu... more Plasticity, learning and memory, and neurological disease are exciting topics for students. Discussion around these subjects often results in the consideration of the role of neurogenesis in development, or its involvement in a potential cure for some diseases. We have therefore designed a lab that allows students to experimentally examine how the rate of neurogenesis can be altered by environmental factors. Neuronal cell division in crayfish is identified with fluorescently-labeled BrdU and quantified using conventional or confocal microscopy. Recent studies indicate a conservation of mechanisms that control neurogenesis from insects and crustaceans to mammals. Yet the use of invertebrate models such as crayfish or lobsters has advantages over mammalian models. Invertebrate nervous systems have a simpler organization and larger, identifiable neurons - qualities that make such preparations easier for students to manage. This lab offers many opportunities for student designed experim...

Plant Ecology, 2002

In the Hawaiian Islands, native Heteropogon contortus (pili grass) is being replaced by alien gra... more In the Hawaiian Islands, native Heteropogon contortus (pili grass) is being replaced by alien grasses, one of which is Pennisetum setaceum (fountain grass). Both grasses depend on seeds for population growth. To help understand factors promoting the spread of the alien and decline of the native, we investigated the effects of physical disturbance, nutrient addition, and seed supplementation on seedling

Restoration Ecology, 2005

Pacific Science, 2001

The success of introduced invaders has often been attributed to their release from natural enemie... more The success of introduced invaders has often been attributed to their release from natural enemies, We compared rates of seed and ovule destruction by insects and fungal pathogens in an alien invader, fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), and a declining native competitor, pili grass (Heteropogon contortus), to determine whether the invader experienced less damage from natural enemies. Inflorescences were sampled on O'ahu from three sites on three dates, and seeds and ovules were inspected for insect damage or pathogen infection. Total seed and ovule destruction was significantly lower in alien fountain grass at all times and sites, with the exception of one sample date on Ka'iwa Ridge when very

International Journal of Plant Sciences, 2001

We compared the reproductive biology of a declining native grass, Heteropogon contortus, and its ... more We compared the reproductive biology of a declining native grass, Heteropogon contortus, and its invasive alien competitor, Pennisetum setaceum, in Hawai'i to identify differences that could explain why the alien has spread so successfully while the native has declined. Both species are drought‐tolerant, perennial, C4 bunchgrasses that rely on apomictic seeds for reproduction. In a series of field observations and greenhouse experiments, we compared the phenology, ovule production, seed production, and seed germination in H. contortus and P. setaceum. In the field, the alien produced two to nine times more seeds per plant than the native. Furthermore, the germination rate for fresh seeds was significantly greater for P. setaceum (45%) than for H. contortus (13%), giving the alien the ability to quickly spread after setting seed. In greenhouse experiments, clipping, burning, and pollen addition did not affect final reproductive output or seed‐set rate in either species. However, P. setaceum recovered from clipping and burning more rapidly both in terms of vegetative regrowth and flowering, which likely gives it an advantage in disturbed environments and in competition with H. contortus. When plants were grown under varying nutrient and water conditions, P. setaceum failed to produce seeds in low‐water and low‐nutrient treatments. In contrast, H. contortus flowered and produced seeds in all treatments, indicating better tolerance of low resources. These findings help explain the current distribution of remnant H. contortus populations in the driest, most nutrient‐poor habitats of the Hawaiian Islands.

General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2008

This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright

Journal of Neurobiology, 2002

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2022